One thing seems pretty obvious, though. This has to be one of the most embarrassingly inept spy attempts we’ve ever been caught in. Over at The Atlantic,[2] they’re referring to the alleged spy, Ryan Fogle, as “Blond . . . James Blond.”

Do our CIA agents really carry around written instructions on how to recruit foreign agents? Do they really wear cheap costume wigs? Why was he carrying a compass?

Fogle has been ordered to leave the country, but only after Russian security forces paraded him around in the Russian press like Chris Hansen[3] humiliating a sexual predator on national television. The incident follows the expulsion in January of another American diplomatic official who was allegedly trying to recruit Russian agents, Russian officials said.

The latest, red-handed spy attempt also comes just as Russia and the U.S. have talked so much recently about cooperation on the Boston Marathon bombing case, which involves two suspects from the Russian republic of Dagestan.

“To put it mildly, it is surprising that this extremely crude, clumsy attempt at recruitment took place in a situation where both President Obama and President Putin have clearly stated the importance of more active cooperation and contacts between the special services of the two countries,” Yuri Ushakov, foreign affairs aide to President Vladimir Putin, told Russian news agencies.[1]

We understand that the U.S. and Russia spy on each other and that each will continue to do so. But let’s make sure our guys pull this off a little better than Inspector Clouseau.[4]